WEBVTT NG DETAILS.REPORTER: AS YOU MENTIONED, TWOINMATES DIED IN THIS INCIDENT.THEY CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR WOULDNOT RELEASE NAMES NOR TELL USHOW THE INMATES WERE KILLED ORBY WHOM.THE NEBRASKA STATE PATROL ANDTHE FIRE MARSHAL ARE NOWINVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT.THE PRISON REMAINS ON LOCKDOWN.IS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE 1:30.THE NEBRASKA CORRECTIONSDIRECTOR JOINED BY THE GOVERNORAND SENATOR CALLED THE INCIDENTTRAGIC, BUT NOT A RIGHT DESPITETWO INMATES GETTING KILLED.HE SAID IT STARTED AFTER 40 OFHOUSING UNIT TWOS INMATESREFUSED TO RETURN TO THEIR CELLSFROM THE YARD.STAFF MEMBERS HAD TO SECURE THEREST OF THE UNIT.>> AT 4:30 P.M. THE ROOT -- THEEMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS ENTERTHE AREA TO SECURE THE HOUSINGUNIT.DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING UNIT WASNOT EXTENSIVE.THE UNIT REMAINS FUNCTIONAL.AND MAKES BID SET SOME FIRESINSIDE THE UNIT.A FULL SEARCH OF A HOUSING UNITIS STILL UNDERWAY.AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NUMEROUSNONLIFE THREATENING INJURIES TOINMATES.TWO ARE CONFIRMED DEAD.REPORTER: WE WATCHED AS TROOPERSIN RIGHT HERE AT THE INMATES ONEBY ONE FROM THE YARD BACK TOTHEIR CELLS.THE GOVERNOR AND AVOIDANCEWARDEN SAY THE QUESTIONSDEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SEEIMPROVEMENTS, MORE NEEDS TO BEDONE.>> IT IS DEVASTATING TO ME.ANY KIND OF LOSS OF LIFE THATHAS HAPPENED.IT IS IMPORTANT WE TAKE A HARDLOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW ITHAPPENED AND TRY TO MAKEIMPROVEMENTS FROM THAT POINT ON.>> THIS IS A DANGEROUS PLACE.OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN CORRECTIONSDO HEROIC WORK TO KEEP US SAFE.AS LONG AS THE INMATES MAKE THATDECISION, WE WILL HAVE TORESPOND TO THOSE DECISIONS.REPORTER: THE DIRECTOR SAYSHOUSING UNIT TWO CONTAINS AMAJOR OF MEDIUM AND ECZEMA ANDSECURITY INMATES.HE ALSO CONFIRMED A INMATE DIDHIT A STAFF MEMBER EARLIER INTHE DAY.IT IS UNCLEAR THAT WAS RELATEDTO THIS INCIDENT.

Two inmates were killed and a number of others were injured Thursday during an incident at a Nebraska prison, according to an official.

Tecumseh State Correctional Institution corrections director Scott Frakes confirmed the deaths after staff members reported a fire set by inmates in a "mini-yard" connected to one of the housing units at 1 p.m. There were approximately 40 inmates there who refused to return to their cells, according to a news release.

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Staff exited the dayroom "when it became clear it was unsafe," and secured the door leading to the rest of the housing unit.

The incident was contained to one half of the housing unit. Several altercations occurred between the inmates.

A decision was made to recall all staff assigned to the TSCI to report to work, and the NDCS emergency response teams were activated. At around 4:30 p.m., the emergency response teams entered the affected area and secured the housing unit.

Damage to the affected housing unit wasn't extensive, and the unit remains functional.

The facility was taken off lockdown procedure around 5:30 p.m.

A number of inmates suffered numerous non-life-threatening injuries. The names of the injured and deceased will not be released at this time.

"We’ve seen so many improvements over the last year and a half and I am proud of my team," Warden Hansen said. "This incident is a reminder that this is a dangerous business and we must remain vigilant as we keep people safe."

The Nebraska State Patrol is on site and conducting an investigation into the fires.

"Any loss of life is tragic," the release said. "The TSCI staff handled the situation extremely well, which limited the incident to a small number of participants and minimal damage. The public's safety was never compromised."

Gov. Pete Ricketts issued the following statement:

“Thanks to the action of our Corrections Officers and the State Patrol, the incident at TSCI was swiftly resolved and public safety was never at risk. Director Frakes will thoroughly investigate the incident, and inmates involved in the incident and the loss of life will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

There will be no visitors at TSCI through Sunday.

The prison in southeast Nebraska was the site of a May 2015 riot that injured several staff members, caused widespread damage and left two inmates dead.